Results 11,781-11,800 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentation and the important work they are doing in this area. Someone mentioned Global Witness. I read a book over the summer, Very Bad People: The Inside Story of the Fight Against the World's Network of Corruption, by Mr. Patrick Alley. What is happening and has happened is unbelievable. I would recommend the book to anyone. I could...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I thank Ms de Barra. Many companies are interested in corporate social responsibility, inclusion, diversity and so on. They mean well in this, but perhaps this issue has not been pointed out to them strongly enough and they are not aware of it at a certain level. That is where the law comes in, and we need to strengthen it. Our committee should take a lead on this matter and hold more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: Prior to the publication of the directive, more than 100 companies signed a statement in support of robust legislation and called for it to be applied to all businesses, including SMEs. Some very large companies signed that statement. They acknowledge that responsibility for human rights and the environment is not a matter of a company's size and turnover. Does the scope of the directive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: It is gratifying that many large businesses are in that space-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: -----and that we may need to catch up with them. In a previous role, I did a great deal of work on gender equality and women's rights. How can the directive be improved in that regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: We have a strong desire to support human rights internationally. That was demonstrated last week at the UN. What else should be included in the directive given our international priorities? What is missing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I think 100 companies and investors have signed a document supporting this proposed directive, which they want to be as strong as possible. Can the witnesses supply us with a list of those so that we might invite some of them before us, if the Chairman agrees, to look at best practice and what can and should be done? I thank the witnesses for their work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (19 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: It has been a most useful, interesting and powerful engagement. I thank the representatives for that. I heard Ms Lawlor say a few times that there is a lack of awareness and a need for more education and information. It is also useful to know that some of the larger companies have the resources to inform themselves, are moving on this and will act as an example for others to follow. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Justice for Colombia: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I welcome Mr. Dodwell and Mr. Finn and thank them for their comprehensive report. It is an interesting contribution. Many of the questions I was going to put have been asked so I will not cover those again, except one or two. Mr. Dodwell mentioned 8 million internally displaced persons, IDPs. Will he comment on that and tell us more about the situation? There are also 1.8 million...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: Is the Taoiseach aware that some companies which need to carry out investigations to develop offshore wind have been waiting for more than two years for decisions to be made on foreshore licences? Can these be expedited? It is causing a crisis of confidence.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: 71. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that have been put in place by his Department to support the mental health and wellbeing of farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53221/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: This question concerns the mental health of farmers. It flows from some recent reports that found that almost one in four farmers was considered to be at risk of suicide, 50% experienced moderate to extreme depression and 40% experienced moderate to extreme stress and severe anxiety. I know the Minister of State is very concerned about this issue. I would like to know what he is doing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I give credit to him for his huge interest in this very important area. Does the Minister of State agree with me that loneliness is a huge issue at the moment among the farming community? Farmers are on their own much of the time during the day. They are under much stress, and many changes in policies are also happening. Much bureaucracy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I agree with everything the Minister of State said in respect of engagement and help and support. Has he engaged with HSE counselling services where farmers are concerned? This is bearing in mind that he said farmers very often work long hours. They come in very late at night when their families have maybe gone to bed. They might see nobody from one end of the day to the next. I would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: This question concerns the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine on the Irish agriculture sector. We were concerned about this when the war broke out. What has been the impact on energy, grain availability, food prices, fertiliser availability and so on and what is being done to support the sector?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: I am substituting for Deputy Richmond in putting this question. I am sure the Minister will agree the figures he has outlined are quite stark. There was an effort made at the start of the year to encourage more grain growing. What has happened in that regard? Has it worked, how many more hectares of grain have been produced as a result and what has been the impact of that? Is the Minister...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Industry (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: Will the Minister outline the supports he is putting in place in respect of energy costs? I am particularly interested in the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, and the condition that energy cannot be paid for if it is exported onto the grid. Any progress made in that area would be a huge help. The number of TAMS grants this year is down. I contend this is because of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: 87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 203 of 26 May 2022 and No. 133 of 31 March 2022, the progress that has been made to date in supporting farmers to generate renewable energy for their own use or for potential sale to the grid under the TAMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53220/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: 239. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered VRT charges on imported vehicles, allowing appeals to be finalised before any VRT fee is paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53499/22]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (25 Oct 2022)

David Stanton: 240. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of appeals that have been lodged in respect of VRT calculations on imported vehicles in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53500/22]